Healthy workplaces

Where you work affects your health, including your physical, mental, economic and social wellbeing. It can also affect the health and wellbeing of your family and community. 

Promoting good health in your workplace can therefore create positive changes in your wider community.

Benefits of a healthy workplace

Organisations that have workplace health and wellbeing programs are known to:

• increase employee morale and engagement
• improve their company image
• reduce workplace injuries and any related costs
• encourage employees to enjoy work and stay in an organisation for a longer time.

Healthy workers are:

• more productive
• more engaged in their work
• known to take less sick leave
• more energetic and can concentrate better.

Workplace health and wellbeing programs

A successful workplace health and wellbeing program:

• doesn’t have to be expensive
• thinks about workplace health and safety
• identifies health issues and needs
• is voluntary and has high attendance
• is sustainable and has long-term commitment
• is assessed and reviewed when needed
• looks at individual and organisational issues
• is supported by management, and senior managers are involved
• is accessible to all employees no matter what their health status, location or role is
• has coordinators who have training in health promotion and relevant resources.

Guide to workplace health and wellbeing

You can find out more about starting a workplace health and wellbeing program in your organisation on the Department of Health website.